Interview with Firevolt Rock Festival Organisers Bev & Stret
- snaphappypixie
- May 18
- 8 min read
Running Firevolt Festival has been a whirlwind journey for founders Bev and Stret, a labor of love that originated from a shared desire to create a more intimate, fan-focused live music experience.
The concept sparked from their own experiences as dedicated gig-goers, leading them to curate an event that prioritizes community and atmosphere above all else.
When it came to finding the perfect home, they sought a venue that balanced natural beauty with practical accessibility, ultimately settling on a site that offered the rustic, open-air charm necessary to foster the festival's unique, communal vibe.
Their approach to building the lineup is equally deliberate; rather than simply chasing big names, they meticulously hand-pick bands that reflect their own eclectic tastes, scouring the underground scene for rising talent while balancing the bill with legacy acts that resonate deeply with the Firevolt ethos.
We manage to pin down the pair for a chat about all things Firevolt!
Hi guys thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us today!
No problem at all, its good of you to think of us!
Running a music festival is a monumental undertaking where do you guys find the time to sit and plan it all out?
I think the biggest thing is Bev & I are an effective team. We live and breathe it. Bev has a high, nowhere to hide pressured job as a Lecturer, and I run Purple Universe, an event management company. It’s no exaggeration to say I work on the festival every day of the year. There is always something to do even if that’s wishing Firevolters a Merry Xmas on Christmas day. I don’t think its about “finding the time” - the festival is the time. It’s a huge part of our lives, we discuss it over dinner when on holiday etc etc.
What does it truly take to bring such a vibrant event to life?
It’s a huge commitment financially and in time. We are both Rockers and have been since being teenagers. The time and opportunity came to launch a new rock festival, in an already competitive market, and we took the decision to invest substantially from our savings in our passion. I’ve done lots of things in my life from a short spell in the Army, being a part of the largest professional football agency in Europe, owning and running our own Wine Bar, owning and running our own Recording and Rehearsal Studio to starting my own Event Management Company which worked extensively across Europe. In summary: Money, lots and lots of hard and challenging work and over 30 years experience of event management skills (of which I’m still learning !)
Tell us a bit of the back story of Firevolt, and how the spark of inspiration turned a shared dream into a reality.
Basically, I met the landowner where the festival is held in circa 2010, he was looking to create a festival on his land and wanted help finding bands so he knocked on my door at the studio (Castle Rock Studios, Alderley Edge). Over the years he kept asking if I wanted to do a Rock Festival but it never aligned. Then it did, and Bev was a big part of convincing me we should go for it, so in 2021 we signed the contract. Unfortunately though I got quite ill and only recovered in early 2022, in six weeks myself and a top gent called Roy Davis pulled together the line up and me & Bev sorted all the organisation. We launched the event in March 2022 and it took place on the 12th -14th August, a truly scary and exhilarating baptism of fire of owning a Rock Festival.
Photo By Katie Richardson
What practical challenges did you face when you were scouting for the perfect venue to house your vision for Firevolt?
We didn’t scout at all, we knew the venue as Stret had helped find bands for previous festivals on the land. We knew how beautiful it was, we regularly camped at some of the other events with our mates, including our now press officer Nigel Cartner.
How do you navigate the complex world of artist management to select the perfect lineup that captures the festival’s unique spirit year after year.
In the first Year Stret & Roy wrote on separate pieces of paper the bands they thought would fit for the festival, then they showed each other their choices and created a preferred wish list, of that list only 2 bands didn’t perform (but they have since). Nowadays Stret takes the lead on creating the line up and chats it through with Roy whose advice is nothing short of magnificent. Depending on who the band is, Stret or Roy then reach out to the band/agent/manager to see if it can work. We try to create a line up that represents a varied palette of sub-genres from Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, AOR, Classic Rock, NWOCR, Blues, Southern Rock and maybe a little bit of Punk too. The strap line is all about Face Melting Rock but to me that can be something as soulful and ethereal of a ballad performed by Cardinal Black to a psychedelic mesmerising track by Von Hertzen Brothers, to a full-on headbanging vein bursting track by Massive Wagons….the face melts when you feel the “Rock”.
Do you intend on making Firevolt bigger capacity wise in the future?
The land has a license (capacity) of 4999. At the moment we are very much growing the festival organically, it grows each year and each year we grow with it. In the first year we had about 15 volunteers, this year our amazing volunteer team is already over 60. For us we don’t want to double the audience “overnight”. We put a lot of effort in being “ a fan first” facing event. The community we have are nothing less than amazing, we love seeing them out and about at gigs, sharing a pint and rocking out wherever we are, to then hosting them when they get that well-earned break for a Rock Weekender away at our picturesque festival. The target is to grow each year and sprinkle in newbies who are then welcomed by the regulars. This then hopefully maintains the great and friendly vibe we and all the Firevolters have together created.
Personally i love the size it is, and I've been to huge festivals and smaller festivals too.
I suppose all have their place, we go to Download when we can but love also being able to see a band closer up at some smaller events.
This one is so unique, it has its own niche. Its not too big and its not too small, its just right.
I like to think of it as a boutique festival that punches above its weight.
Everyone was super nice, the atmosphere was brilliant, and I've made it my go to for summer festivals now.
Its still very humbling and amazing when we hear this. We are more than aware of the options people have to spend their hard earned cash, those that do so with us become a part of our extended family.
How do you keep that Firevolt Festival flame burning, ensuring your fans keep coming back?
Being honest it does take a lot of time and resources to do what we do BUT we have such a passion for it and for our Firevolters. The responsibility of being Mr & Mrs Firevolt is hugely humbling and at the same time bum squeekingly scary. For us, we don’t “sell”, we "invite" you to come on the journey with us. I see us as a gang, Firevolters together all carrying the flaming Torch of Rock enjoying our shared love of the music and camaraderie and ensuring the genre continues to exist on the planet.
Do you find it hard to keep up with demand when there are other festivals that are booked for the same weekend with bigger acts?
Ha ha presume you mean Bloodstock?
No, but go on....
The only reason Firevolt is on the same weekend as Bloodstock is because when we decided to launch it the venue only had that weekend for the next 5 years, so we knew from the outset we would clash with Bloodstock but we also believe we are a very different, obviously the size but also the genre of bands we book.
Yes we do have Heavy Metal but we have a lot of other “Rock Sub-genres” that in general you wouldn’t see at Bloodstock. Firevolt is a boutique festival where our community like to see up and coming bands, retro classic rock bands and the most exciting new bands ripping up the scene they follow.
It can have its advantages too though. We were asked if we would like Royal Republic to perform at Firevolt in 2023 as they were also performing at Bloodstock, Result!
How do you maintain your energy and composure when faced with the inevitable, last-minute crises that arise, and what does it feel like to finally see the gates open after months of tireless planning?
Running and organising a festival is not for everyone. Its extremely challenging.
I truly respect all those that do it.
You have to have the mindset of problems are just waiting to be solved. You can only do your best, and I mean your best. There are no days off, there is no hiding, there is only keep going. Yes there is a lot of planning that goes into it but you also need to have a calm reactive nature.
I can only compare it to buying a baby bull, looking after it all year to then open the gates to see it charge at you, its survive or die time! The feeling once we’ve got everyone in and settled and they’ve got a pint of their favourite grogg in their hands is quite emotional, a proud moment, then you pinch yourself and remember you need to get tickets back on sale for next year!
When Firevolters leave on the Monday we try to be at the gate to wave goodbye. It’s a sad moment but also a feeling of achievement, lots of stop and have a cuddle, thank us, or give us an idea to think about.
We then go into the break down stage which takes about a week. We get home, look at each other and say “we did it!”
What is the most rewarding moment for you personally—is it the electric atmosphere of the crowd as they experience the performances, or is it the quiet sense of relief once the final stage is packed away and the site is clear?
For me it’s the love, respect and family feeling we get from our Firevolters. They know with every decision we make its with them in mind.
Usually, Bev and I do at some point get to sit at the side of the stage and listen to a band or two and look out to see so many familiar faces all smiling all enjoying their Rock weekender away, they so deserve it and it gives me a buzz inside.
With this year being the 5th Year Anniversary of the festival, you've managed to get some amazing artists, i cant wait to see The Wildhearts!
Bands, line ups, its all subjective, we have as many people excited about the headliners as those excited about the openers. This year as you say is our 5th Birthday Celebration so we wanted to invite back some of the bands that have supported us to get to this point, but of course we have added in bands that are Firevolt newbies and we look forward to welcoming and hosting all our artists for 2026.
Who will be your go to band over the weekend?
I avoid this question, it feels like picking your favourite child.
I know that's been a lot to get through, but appreciate you guys speaking with us today!
Enjoyed it, thanks for giving us the opportunity to share some of the behind the scenes stuff.
Thanks again for your time and see you at Firevolt!
No problem see you there, I will be the one being chased by a bull!
